UCSF Launches Online Registry to Drive Brain Disease Research

A new online project led by researchers at UC San Francisco promises to dramatically cut the time and cost of conducting clinical trials for brain diseases, while also helping scientists analyze and track the brain functions of thousands of volunteers over time.

With easy online registration, the Brain Health Registry (www.brainhealthregistry.org) is designed to create a ready pool of research subjects for studies on neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as well as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and many other brain ailments. About one third of the cost of running a clinical trial comes from having to recruit patients, and many trials fail or are delayed because of it.

The Brain Health Registry is the first neuroscience project to use the Internet on such a scale to advance clinical research, according to Dr. Michael Weiner, founder and principal investigator of the initiative and a professor of radiology, biomedical engineering, medicine, psychiatry, and neurology at UCSF. One of his roles is serving as principle investigator of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, the largest observational study in the world concerning Alzheimer's.

"This registry is an innovative 21st century approach to science with tremendous potential," Weiner said. "The greatest obstacles to finding a cure for Alzheimer's and other brain disorders are the cost and time involved in clinical trials. This project aims to cut both and greatly accelerate the search for cures."

Leading funders for the project include the Rosenberg Alzheimer's Project, the Ray and Dagmar Dolby Family Fund, and Kevin and Connie Shanahan. The initial focus will be on the San Francisco Bay Area, and the goal is to recruit 50,000 people. Nearly 2,000 people already signed up during the online Registry's beta phase.

Volunteers will provide a brief personal history and take online neuropsychological tests in an online game format. The games give the Brain Health Registry scientific team a "snapshot" of the participant's brain function. The data collected will help scientists study brains as they age, identify markers for diseases, develop better diagnostic tools to stop disease before it develops and increase the ready pool of pre-qualified clinical trial participants.

A select number of volunteers will be asked by researchers to do more, such as provide saliva or blood samples or participate in clinical trials to test potential cures. Volunteers can participate as little or as much as they like. All information will be gathered in accordance with federal privacy laws under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), as well as the highest standards of medical ethics.

"For those of us who know people suffering from Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, PTSD and other brain disorders, this is a way we can be involved in the search for a cure," said Douglas Rosenberg, of the Rosenberg Alzheimer's Project, which is helping to fund the project. "We've worked to make the process very easy and very fulfilling for our volunteers.

Recruiting costs are a large part of the expense of conducting clinical trials, which, in turn, help drive up the cost of developing new drugs. Early stage trials, which focus on safety and preliminary efficacy, can cost tens of millions of dollars. Late stage trials, which involve hundreds, if not thousands, of people and focus on efficacy, can cost hundreds of millions. Trials at both stages can drag on for years, largely because recruitment is such a big challenge.

"Dr. Weiner is putting together a Bay Area 'ready for trials' group that will bring more patients forward for therapies," said Dr. Bruce Miller, the A.W. and Mary Margaret Clausen Distinguished Professor in Neurology at UCSF and director of the Memory and Aging Center. "A central registry could speed this process up dramatically and save a lot of money."

The Brain Health Registry has partnered with Lumosity, the San Francisco-based brain training and neuroscience research company. Lumosity is helping recruit members for the Brain Health Registry and has also provided a battery of online assessments as part of the brain performance tests. The Brain Health Registry has also partnered with healthcare and product leader Johnson & Johnson Innovation and Cogstate, the Australian company known for its computer-based cognitive assessment tools.

"The Brain Health Registry is aligned with our research goals and has the potential to transform clinical trial recruitment for brain conditions and open up new opportunities for research," said Michael Scanlon, Chief Scientific Officer of Lumosity. "We are excited to partner with UCSF and the Brain Health Registry to advance neuroscience research and gain a better understanding of the human brain."

Community Support for the Brain Health Registry

Oakland A's pitcher Sean Doolittle has recorded a public service announcement (PSA) about the Brain Health Registry. As Doolittle says in his radio spot, "It's easy, safe and free. Do your part at www.brainhealthregistry.org."

Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors has recorded a video PSA to encourage fans to sign up.

The San Francisco Giants have invited the Brain Health Registry to participate in their Mental Health Awareness event at the ballpark later this summer.

The cities of Oakland and West Sacramento, and Marin County have declared April 8th "Brain Health Registry Day."

The Brain Health Registry has received a Certificate of Honor from San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee.

About UCSF Medical Center
UCSF Medical Center consistently ranks as one of the top 10 hospitals in the United States. Recognized for innovative treatments, advanced technology, collaboration among health care professionals and scientists, and a highly compassionate patient care team, UCSF Medical Center serves as the academic medical center of the University of California, San Francisco. The medical center's nationally preeminent programs include children's health, the brain and nervous system, organ transplantation, women's health and cancer. It operates as a self-supporting enterprise within UCSF and generates its own revenues to cover the operating costs of providing patient care.